‘Oprah of China’ expresses regret over death of protected bird on her Oahu property

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – A woman who’s been called the “Oprah of China” says she’s heartbroken over the killing of a protected bird on her former North Shore property.

Yue-Sai Kan says she didn’t order its death and donated the multi-million dollar property to the state to avoid a long legal fight.

The media and cosmetics mogul has a wall of fame in her Hawaii home, showing off her interactions with everyone from former President Barack Obama to actress Halle Berry, and a lifetime of global experiences detailed in her new book “The Most Famous Woman in China.”

“BYU was my school and I literally grew up for years, 16 to 20. I was in Laie and when I saw this piece of land, I thought how wonderful it would be,” Kan told Hawaii News Now.

Last year, controversy erupted at her 4.7-acre property at Marconi Point in Kahuku after the death of a protected native mōlī (Laysan albatross) named Ho’okipa. State investigators reported a groundsworker threw a rock at the bird’s head, which angered conservationists.

Entrepreneur dubbed ‘Chinese Oprah’ poised to donate beachfront property to avoid high fines

“Of course, I was very sad. There was a bird that was raising eggs on my property and we were so excited,” said Kan.

“I’m not a bird killer. I’m a daughter of a horticulturist,” she added.

Kan says she wanted to create a kukui and taro farm for the community and was in Europe when it happened.

Hawaii News Now asked what happened to the groundkeeper.

“Honestly, I don’t know and I have never met him. I don’t know him. Actually, I think we didn’t even hire him directly. We hired someone else to clear our weeds for us and that person hired him,” said Kan.

Kan could have faced $1.5 million in fines for alleged violations, but says rather than a long legal fight, she decided to donate her more than $5 million property to the North Shore Community Land Trust.

“I don’t have the time, nor the energy or the age to try to fight everything,” said Kan.

She says she was not aware of the regulations over her land.

The “settlement does not compensate the state for the devastating loss of the albatross, the bees, or of high-quality habitat, but ensures that Unit 1 (the donated land) is preserved for the benefit of those same species and restored with their survival in mind,” said the Department of Land and Natural Resources, in a statement.

“The DLNR has agreed to not pursue criminal charges and Kan is not required to admit fault, liability, guilt, or obligation,” the state agency added.

“We will make the highest use of this opportunity to advance our efforts to fully restore this amazing coastal dune environment,” said Adam Borrello, executive director at the North Shore Community Land Trust, in a statement.

Kan believes her portrayal has been unfair, but says with the donation, it’s time to move on and focus on the philanthropy.

“I do care more that the land is under the stewardship of people who know how to take care of that land,” she said.

Copyright 2024 Hawaii News Now. All rights reserved.